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This study is an exploratory examination of the effect of the Ghana government's flagship program known as the One-Village-One-Dam (1V1D) initiative on the livelihoods of rural farmers in the five regions of Northern Ghana. A total of 15 constituencies proportionate to the number of constituencies in each of the five beneficiary regions were selected from the region. Data were collected from a total of 1585 respondents, comprising 785 from the control group and 800 from the treatment group. The survey focused on access to water, crop and livestock productivity, income generation, and overall well-being. Four main findings are reported. First, the results show differential effects of the 1V1D initiative. There was an increase in reliance on 1V1D dams for water, particularly in the Northern region, where challenges such as insufficient water storage and poor dam maintenance hindered their effectiveness for irrigation and livestock rearing. Second, the use of water from boreholes was more popular in the other parts of Northern Ghana. Third, the shallowness of most of the dams meant that they dried up during the dry season and, therefore, did not have a significant effect on crops and livestock productivity. Finally, the dams had a marginal effect on food security, income levels of the farmers, and consequently on their overall livelihoods. The findings of this exploratory study will provide insights to enrich further studies based on the second and third rounds of data collection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study conducts numerical simulations using the boundary integral equations method to model electric resistivity tomography for investigating an embankment dam. Computational speed is enhanced by formulating the direct problem in integral equations and employing the Fourier transform along the strike direction, thereby reducing the 2.5D problem to a set of 1D integral equations. Synthetic data obtained for potential installations are interpreted using the inversion programme ZondRes2D. The impact of varying dam slope angles and the resistivity of interfacing media on interpretation outcomes is systematically evaluated across different dam models. Main geometric anomalies associated with the three‐dimensional structure of the dam are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the global energy sector has seen significant transformation, particularly in Europe, with a notable increase in intermittent renewable energy integration. Italy and the European Union (EU) have been among the leaders in this transition, with renewables playing a substantial role in electricity generation as of the mid-2020s. The adoption of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) has become crucial for enhancing grid efficiency, sustainability, and reliability by addressing intermittent renewable sources. This paper investigates the feasibility and economic viability of batteries in wholesale electricity markets as per EU regulation, focusing on the dynamics of very different markets, namely the Day-Ahead Market (DAM) based on system marginal price and the Cross-Border Intra-day Market (XBID) based on continuous trading. A novel model is proposed to enhance BESS operations, leveraging price arbitrage strategies based on zonal price predictions, levelized cost of storage (LCOS), and uncertain bid acceptance in continuous trading. Machine learning and deep learning techniques are applied for price forecasting and bid acceptance prediction, respectively. This study finds that data-driven techniques outperform reference models in price forecasting and bid acceptance prediction (+7–14% accuracy). Regarding market dynamics, this study reveals higher competitiveness in the continuous market compared to the DAM, particularly with increased risk factors in bids leading to higher profits. This research provides insights into compatibility between continuous markets and BESS, showing substantial improvements in economic profitability and the correlation between risk and profits in the bidding strategy (EUR +9 M yearly revenues are obtained with strategic behavior that reduces awarded energy by 60%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Throughout history, the implementation of structural health monitoring systems has played a crucial role in evaluating the responses of dams to environmental and human-induced threats. By continuously monitoring structural integrity and analyzing dynamic characteristics, these systems offer a robust alternative to traditional visual inspection methods, ensuring the long-term safety of dams. This paper delves into the intricate process of operational modal analysis applied to dams, encompassing data collection, preprocessing, and the utilization of diverse modal identification techniques across both time and frequency domains. Moreover, it explores innovative approaches aimed at overcoming challenges encountered in previous methodologies. Also, the evolution of automated modal identification techniques and their application in dams are investigated. It explores the advancements in this field and their implications for enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of modal analysis processes. Furthermore, this paper evaluates the effectiveness of damage detection methods in dams based on operational modal identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coal mining in the Loess Plateau can very easily generate ground cracks, and these cracks can immediately result in ventilation trouble under the mine shaft, runoff disturbance, and vegetation destruction. Advanced UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) high-resolution mapping and DL (Deep Learning) are introduced as the key methods to quickly delineate coal mining ground surface cracks for disaster prevention. Firstly, the dataset named the Ground Cracks of Coal Mining Area Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (GCCMA-UAV) is built, with a ground resolution of 3 cm, which is suitable to make a 1:500 thematic map of the ground crack. This GCCMA-UAV dataset includes 6280 images of ground cracks, and the size of the imagery is 256 × 256 pixels. Secondly, the DRA-UNet model is built effectively for coal mining ground surface crack delineation. This DRA-UNet model is an improved UNet DL model, which mainly includes the DAM (Dual Dttention Dechanism) module, the RN (residual network) module, and the ASPP (Atrous Spatial Pyramid Pooling) module. The DRA-UNet model shows the highest recall rate of 77.29% when the DRA-UNet was compared with other similar DL models, such as DeepLabV3+, SegNet, PSPNet, and so on. DRA-UNet also has other relatively reliable indicators; the precision rate is 84.92% and the F1 score is 78.87%. Finally, DRA-UNet is applied to delineate cracks on a DOM (Digital Orthophoto Map) of 3 km2 in the mining workface area, with a ground resolution of 3 cm. There were 4903 cracks that were delineated from the DOM in the Huojitu Coal Mine Shaft. This DRA-UNet model effectively improves the efficiency of crack delineation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chesapeake Logperch, Percina bimaculata, is a small fish endemic to the upper Chesapeake Bay drainage with a range significantly reduced by water quality and habitat degradation. It was described by Haldeman in 1842 and 1844 from the Susquehanna River, Pennsylvania, synonymized with the Logperch (Percina caprodes) by Jordan in 1877, and redescribed by Near in 2008. It is extirpated from the Potomac River drainage and extant in a portion of its historic range within the Susquehanna River drainage of Pennsylvania and Maryland in the United States of America. We reviewed available historic field survey information and defined the likely extent of the historic distribution of P. bimaculata and its change in response to historic environmental perturbations. We performed fisheries surveys during 2004–2023 to fill data gaps and to define the current distribution and abundance in the Susquehanna River drainage within Pennsylvania. Our surveys utilized electrofishing gears, electrified benthic trawls, and seines. Our surveys targeting P. bimaculata on the Susquehanna River and tributaries from York Haven to Holtwood, Pennsylvania, combined with available fisheries surveys conducted by others, confirm it was extirpated from that portion of the drainage. We documented the continued usage of Conowingo Pond, Susquehanna River, and tributaries below Holtwood by populations known to exist in historic field surveys. These populations appear to have been stable since at least the 1960s based on historic data and our current surveys. We documented previously unknown populations in the Octoraro Creek drainage, Octoraro Reservoir, and Muddy Run Pumped Storage Facility. Habitat utilization observations during our surveys indicate that clean sand, gravel, rubble, boulders, and large woody debris are preferred substrates. In the lower Susquehanna River and two tributaries, P. bimaculata has demonstrated a plasticity of habitat usage by continuing to occur in environments converted into impoundments by dams. In these impoundments, shorelines and connections with clean tributaries containing preferred substrates appear to be important given their utilization by P. bimaculata during our surveys. It is our opinion that the Susquehanna River and tributaries above Holtwood once again constitute suitable habitats. Conservation efforts focused on reintroductions, water quality, habitat, and connectivity have the potential to increase the extent of occurrence, abundance, and security of P. bimaculata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transboundary rivers raise critical concerns for state security amidst contemporary ecological strain and regional geopolitics in South Asia. The challenge of 'water security' is underscored by the substantial reliance on transboundary rivers, compounded by the multifaceted impacts of climate change and the simmering geopolitical tensions among riparian nations, especially in the complex dynamics between India–China and India–Pakistan. This study endeavours to illuminate distinctive characteristics of the South Asian transboundary governance framework, wherein rivers are subjected to intensive damming aimed at (a) harnessing hydroelectric potential and (b) leveraging water resources as geopolitical bargaining chips, thereby exerting pressure; however, order is not specified, particularly. In this intricate milieu, international conventions often fail to reconcile internal contradictions inherent within the transboundary governance paradigm. Consequently, transboundary water resources have metamorphosed into an extension of geopolitical realities, embodying intricate interplay between hydrology, geopolitics and state security within the region, especially between China, India and Pakistan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Convergent estuaries have been shortened by dam‐like structures worldwide. Here, we evaluate 31 long‐term water level stations and use a semi‐analytical tide model to investigate how landward‐funneling and a dam influence tidal and storm surge propagation in the greater Charleston Harbor region, South Carolina, where three rivers meet: the Ashley, Cooper, and Wando. Results show that the phase speed and amplification of the principal tidal harmonic (M2) is larger than other long waves such as storm surge (∼1–4 days) and setup‐setdown (∼4–10 days). Further landward, all waves attenuate, but, as they approach the dam on the Cooper River, a frequency dependent response in amplitude and phase progression occurs. A semi‐analytical tidal model shows that funneling and the presence of a dam amplify tidal waves through wave interference from partial and full reflection, respectively. The different phase progressions of the reflected waves interact with the incident wave to increase or decrease the summed overall wave amplitude. Using a friction‐convergence parameter space, we demonstrate that dominant tides in 23 estuaries and the tidal, storm surge, and setup‐setdown waves in the Cooper River can be delineated into three regimes that describe landward amplification or attenuation associated with funneling, a dam, or both. The regime of each tidal constituent is consistent but can change with the duration and height of each storm surge event; dam associated wave interference can attenuate long‐duration events, while the most intense events (short duration, high water) are amplified by dams more than funneling and greatly increase flood exposure. Plain Language Summary: Most ports and cities are located along estuaries and deltas where flood hazards are increasing partially due to human modifications of channel geometry and land use. Dams, salt barrages, and surge barriers are common in estuaries. They modify estuarine geometry, regulate river flow, protect against flooding, and prevent salt intrusion. Many estuaries are naturally convergent, wide near the sea and narrower landward. Dams are barriers which shorten an estuary. Like ocean swell at a seawall, tides reflect off dams and often increase tidal range. Here we investigate how dams and landward changes in estuarine geometry influence tides and storm surges. Using measurements from the greater Charleston Harbor, SC, we find that constructing a dam either increases or decreases water levels, depending primarily on estuary convergence and surge event duration, as well as flow resistance and river flow. The presence of dams results in higher water levels, and thus flood exposure, when convergence is weak and storm surge at the sea has a short duration and high water levels. Further, channelization that extends inland, resulting from dredging of shipping channels, increases the magnitude and seaward extent of dam effects with increasing flood risk. Key Points: Estuarine geomorphic funneling and dams produce partial and full reflections, respectively, with magnitudes that are frequency dependentThree convergence regimes emerge: dominant tides have near peak amplification, overtides attenuate, and long duration surges mildly amplifyDams reflect and amplify long waves—increasing flood exposure—the most in weakly convergent estuaries with low friction [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article describes the specific features and difficulties of monitoring the condition of an embankment dam with a clay-cement-concrete diaphragm. Moreover, it provides an overview and an evaluation of the applied monitoring methods. Additions to the existing set of measures for monitoring embankment dams with a clay-cement-concrete diaphragm are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pathological role of interferon signaling is emerging in neuroinflammatory disorders, yet, the specific role of Interferon Regulatory Factor 3 (IRF3) in neuroinflammation remains poorly understood. Here, we show that global IRF3 deficiency delays TLR4-mediated signaling in microglia and attenuates the hallmark features of LPS-induced inflammation such as cytokine release, microglial reactivity, astrocyte activation, myeloid cell infiltration, and inflammasome activation. Moreover, expression of a constitutively active IRF3 (S388D/S390D: IRF3-2D) in microglia induces a transcriptional program reminiscent of the Activated Response Microglia and the expression of genes associated with Alzheimer's disease, notably apolipoprotein-e. Using bulk-RNAseq of IRF3-2D brain myeloid cells, we identified Z-DNA binding protein-1 (ZBP1) as a target of IRF3 that is relevant across various neuroinflammatory disorders. Lastly, we show IRF3 phosphorylation and IRF3-dependent ZBP1 induction in response to Aβ in primary microglia cultures. Together, our results identify IRF3 as an important regulator of LPS and Aβ -mediated neuroinflammatory responses and highlight IRF3 as a central regulator of disease-specific gene activation in different neuroinflammatory diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High Froude-number open-channel flows can entrain significant volumes of air, a phenomenon that occurs continuously in spillways, in free-falling jets and in hydraulic jumps, or as localized events, notably at the toe of hydraulic jumps or in plunging jets. Within these flows, turbulence generates millions of bubbles and droplets as well as highly distorted wavy air–water interfaces. This phenomenon is crucial from a design perspective, as it influences the behaviour of high-velocity flows, potentially impairing the safety of dam operations. This review examines recent scientific and engineering progress, highlighting foundational studies and emerging developments. Notable advances have been achieved in the past decades through improved sampling of flows and the development of physics-based models. Current challenges are also identified for instrumentation, numerical modelling and (up)scaling that hinder the formulation of fundamental theories, which are instrumental for improving predictive models, able to offer robust support for the design of large hydraulic structures at prototype scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Legal regulations for dispensing in Swiss heroin‐assisted treatment were relaxed during the COVID‐19 pandemic, allowing prolonged take‐home of up to 7 days instead of two to reduce patient contact and the risk of infection. Our study aimed to measure the consequences of this new practice. Design, setting and participants: This was a retrospective cohort study set in Switzerland's largest outpatient centre for opioid agonist therapy. One hundred and thirty‐four (72.4%) of the 185 patients receiving oral diacetylmorphine (DAM) participated in the study. Measurements: Through the utilization of electronic medication prescription and dispensing software, as well as the electronic medical record, the following data were extracted to explore the potential consequences: dose of DAM, the number of antibiotic therapies, emergency hospitalizations and incarcerations. Age, gender, prescriptions for psychotrophic drugs and additional prescription for injectable DAM were tested to assess an increased risk of losing prolonged take‐home privileges. Data in the year since prolonged take‐home (period 2) were compared with data from the equivalent prior year (period 1). Findings DAM take‐home was not associated with a change in DAM dose (P = 0.548), the number of emergency hospitalizations (P = 0.186) or the number of incarcerations (P = 0.215); 79.1% of all patients were able to maintain their extended take‐home privileges. However, patients who had injectable DAM experienced significant reductions in their prolonged take‐home privileges. Conclusion: Allowing patients to take home oral diacetylmorphine for up to 7 days as treatment for opioid use disorder does not appear to pose any demonstrable health risk. It is generally manageable for the large majority of patients. However, careful consideration of prolonged take‐home for patients with additional injectable diacetylmorphine is recommended, as these patients are more likely to lose take‐home privileges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dams are one of the greatest threats to freshwater biodiversity and efforts to remove dams to restore riverine systems are increasing. However, dam‐removal studies have primarily focused on taxonomic responses to large dam removals with little work on the functional trait responses of fish to small‐dam removals; such a focus limits the application of results in regions with different taxonomic compositions.We explored taxonomic and functional trait responses of fish assemblages to two small‐dam removals over 10 years using a Multiple Before After Control Impact design at a dammed and an undammed river. Eight life‐history traits were used to calculate functional diversity (RaoQ) and determine the position of each fish species within a multivariate life‐history space relative to three life‐history strategy endpoints: opportunistic, periodic, and equilibrium. The distance of each species relative to these endpoints was used to calculate community weighted means (CWM), allowing us to examine the shift in life‐history strategy of a given assemblage after dam removal. Based on life‐history theory, we predicted a decrease in the CWM of equilibrium strategists and an increase in the CWM opportunistic strategists after dam removal.For the dammed river, we observed changes in assemblage structure at both the control and impact sites driven primarily by shifts from a lentic to lotic assemblage, with the most apparent change occurring in the formerly impounded sites. These changes tended to occur within 1 year, suggesting rapid colonization by lotic species after habitat change. By contrast, no change in assemblage structure was found for the undammed river, suggesting that dam removal was the primary driver of the shifts in assemblage structure observed in the dammed river. We found no change in the CWM of periodic strategists or RaoQ of all life‐history traits at any site after dam removal.Based on CWM, life‐history strategies shifted in response to dam removal at impounded sites where equilibrium strategists decreased and opportunistic strategists tended to increase after the impounded sites changed from a stable lentic environment to an unstable lotic environment, supporting predictions made by life‐history theory.Our results suggest that small‐dam removal may provide ecological benefits by restoring fish assemblages to a more natural riverine state and reversing the negative effects of dam construction on the ecosystem. We demonstrate that combining both trait‐based and taxonomic approaches can improve our ecological understanding of the impacts of dam removal on fish assemblages and provide relevant data for local management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial biomass in soil is an active and living constituent of organic matter. It is both a storage pool and a source of plant nutrients that can be used as required. In addition, each microbial indicator evaluates soil quality and health from different perspectives, which are not necessarily very different. This study was conducted to compare some physical, chemical, and biochemical characteristics of the soils of forest (SF) and deforested (SDE) areas located on the slopes of the Kirazlıköprü area, which was previously deforested due to dam construction in Bartın province in northwestern Turkey. Soil samples were taken from the topsoil surface (0–5 cm) to determine the microbial soil characteristics of the SF and SDE sites. The soil microbial biomass N (Nmic) was determined by chloroform fumigation extraction, and the Cmic/Nmic ratio and Nmic/Ntotal percentage were calculated using the original values. Total N, Nmic and Cmic/Nmic values are higher in the forest area. The lowest and highest total N (Ntotal) contents in the SF and SDE soils varied between 1.50 and 3.47 g kg−1 and 0.91 and 1.46 g kg−1, respectively. Similarly, the Nmic contents of the SF and SDE soils varied between 75.56 and 143.42 μg g−1 and 10.40 and 75.96 μg g−1, respectively. A statistical analysis revealed that the mean Ntotal and mean Nmic values differed (p < 0.05) in the SF and SDE soils. The mean Cmic/Nmic values in the SF and SDE soils were 8.79 (±1.65) and 5.64 (±1.09), respectively, and a statistical difference was found between the fields (p < 0.05). Our findings indicate that the soil microbial community structure varies according to the site. As a result, it can be concluded that deforestation and erosion due to dam construction in the area led to the removal of plant nutrients from the soil; deterioration in the amount and activity of microbial biomass; and, consequently, soil losses and degradation of soil quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental and ecological effects of the dam of the high-pressure Bratsk Hydroelectric Power Station (HPS) on the fish population and the probability of fish downstream migration from the Bratsk Reservoir have been studied. It has been revealed that thermal stratification of the water column is a significant factor in the ecological differentiation of the fish population in the upper reaches of high-pressure hydroelectric plants. According to hydroacoustics data, most of the ichthyomass, consisting of "warm-water" representatives of the Percidae (65%) and Cyprinidae (22%) families, is concentrated in the relatively warm layer of the epilimnion. Juvenile fish from 30 to 50 mm in size (up to 70% of the total fish number in this layer) are also concentrated here. In the cold-water hypolimnion, the fish population is represented by large single individuals of whitefish (Coregoninae). The data on distribution of fish in the lower and upper reaches of the dam, fish nutrition patterns, growth rate, and the presence of injuries that occur when fish pass downstream through hydroelectric plant dams are presented. Revealed differences in the growth rate of perches from the upper and lower reaches are associated with their constant inhabiting of water masses with contrasting temperatures. Net catches in the lower reaches over the four seasons of research lack injured individuals. These facts prove the absence of mass downstream passage of fish through the Bratsk HPS dam. Juveniles of cyprinids and perches accumulate in the upper warm layer of 0–10 m, i.e. outside the zone of the intake flow formation, which makes their entrance to intake openings at a depth of more than 20 m hardly possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reviews the technology of construction and functioning of watertight elements of hydrotechnical embankments. A case study of two reservoirs located in the middle course of the Nysa Kłodzka River is described: (1) Otmuchów reservoir functioning since 1933, (2) Nysa reservoir functioning since 1971. The effectiveness of the applied impermeable screens, i.e. a clay screen of the Otmuchów reservoir and a concrete screen of the Nysa reservoir, was assessed and compared. Data from piezometers located at the height of the dam crest along its entire profile were analysed for measurements taken in the years 2020–2022. Indicators such as the distribution and depth of the water level in the dam body and changes in pressure in piezometers under the influence of water level fluctuations in the reservoir were considered. In addition, the scale and frequency of repair and maintenance activities carried out on both facilities were analysed, especially in aspects of the dam body sealing and the need to repair the upstream slope structures, which are directly exposed to filtration and wave action. It was found that, despite the long period of operation of both facilities, they maintain proper water tightness, and the depth of the water level in the embankments reacts only slightly to fluctuations in the amount (height) of stored water. This correlation is more evident closer to the middle part of the dam of the Nysa reservoir, where an abrupt increase in damming height caused a vertical movement of the water table in the embankment, but with a delay of about a week. It was pointed out that both sealing technologies adopted were associated with the need for numerous revitalisation measures, mainly due to dynamic degradation of the stone paving in the area of fluctuations in the level of dammed water in the case of the Otmuchów reservoir and loss of watertightness at expansion joints of concrete slabs protecting the upstream slope of the Nysa reservoir dam.

Constructing dams is one of the human achievements in developing urban societies. In the last few decades, rapid growth in developing the Red Sea coast and Sinai in Egypt has taken place. According to the UN Nexus definition, water, energy, and food are the main sources of sustainable development. The dam gives the best structure that can fulfill these requirements. The geology of Egypt in the concerning areas in both the Red Sea and Sinai shows that both areas are mountainous areas. The wadies in these mountains suffer from being exposed to severe weathering conditions. Flash floods and wind blowing are the main causes of exposing sedimentary rocks in these Wadies to different degrees of weathering. The present paper focuses on studying the effect of weathering on the engineering behavior of dams intended to be constructed in these areas. The examined rock foundations cover mud-stone, Sand-stone, and limestone. A published numerical model for Longtan Dam was utilized as a reference case to construct a verified numerical model that was later employed in a parametric study to clear the effect of weathering on the studied sediment rock. The verification and parametric study were carried out using GeoStudio software. The results show the clear effect of the variation in weathering on the engineering parameters of the examined sedimentary rock deposits.

Soil erosion and sedimentation are the major threats to Ethiopia’s economy by impacting the productivity of agricultural land and shortening the life of dams. Ayigebire watershed was one of the most erosion-susceptible watersheds in Menz Gera district of Ethiopia. At the outlet, there was a soil dam (Godebe soil dam) which covered 12.7 ha. The dam was designed for irrigation purposes wishing to serve 378 households on 68 ha of land. However, the dam was facing a huge challenge of siltation due to the soil erosion brought from the upper reaches of the watershed. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify the erosion-affected area and to estimate the watershed's annual sediment yield delivered to the dam. The study used rainfall, DEM and satellite image data obtained from different sources. The result shows the annual soil loss of the watershed was 47 tons ha−1 yr−1. The regions along the drainage lines were identified as erosion hotspot areas and they contribute 76.6% of soil loss. The estimated annual sediment washed from the watershed and reached the Godebe soil dam was found to be 8710 m3 (60969 m3) since the time the dam became operational). From the finding, it could be concluded that the watershed was highly vulnerable to soil loss above the tolerable soil loss limit of the country i.e., 10 tons ha−1 yr−1. Therefore, it’s recommended the high erosion and sediment-producing areas along the waterlines and side banks of the dam get priority for management.

Introduction/purpose: The dynamic analysis of a seismic response of a concrete vault dam is a complex problem in which the representation of the behavior of the material requires some form of a nonlinear model, especially if the concrete is subjected to a significant stress load of the ground. In the case of large movements of the latter, large cracks may form in some areas of the dam, especially at the base of the dam and near sudden changes in geometry. Methods: This analysis was based on a numerical simulation of the dynamic effect. This work was carried out using the finite element method with the ANSYS 12.1 program. The dam was modelled in two dimensions. Four types of analysis were performed: static analysis, modal analysis, seismic analysis under excitation of two accelerograms (Asnam 1980 and Boumerdes 2003), and spectral analysis. Results: This analysis showed the vulnerability of the Brezina dam to the Boumerdes earthquake with high stresses at the base of the structure. Conclusions: Based on this study, it was concluded that if the Brezina dam suffers an earthquake of a greater intensity than that of Boumerdes, this will cause structural damage and cracks that will compromise the dam's watertightness as well as its durability.

The catastrophic failure of two dams in Libya on 10 and 11 September 2023 resulted in the devastating flooding of the city of Derna, which is located downstream of the dams, causing more than 6000 fatalities and displacing thousands of residents. The failure was attributed to heavy rainfall from Storm Daniel, leading to the dams reaching full capacity and subsequently overflowing and failing. This paper presents an analysis of the dam break, including the modelling of flow discharge and the resulting flooding of Derna. For validation purposes, this study compares the modelled quantities with post-event satellite imagery from UNOSAT and Copernicus, local reports, and data collected from social media using AI detection. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of the dam break and its initial parameters, as well as an assessment of the accuracy of the results. The analysis is performed using a rapid estimation technique developed by JRC to provide the international emergency community with a swift overview of the impact and damage assessment of potential or actual dam break events. The use of all available data shows a satisfactory comparison with the calculated quantities. The rapid modelling of dam break events and combined analysis of multiple data types are proven suitable for promptly assessing the expected dynamic of the event, as well as reconstructing the unknown initial conditions before the break. Incorporating sensitivity analyses provides an estimate of the uncertainties associated with the deduced values of the unknown parameters and their relative importance in the analysis.

The objective of this study is to investigate the effects of rainfall variability and anthropogenic changes on river discharge in the Benoue and the Logone river basins over the last seven decades (1950–2018). To achieve this goal, hydrometeorological data from these basins were analyzed using the Pettitt and Mann–Kendall tests. Our results show that negative rupture was observed in the hydrometeorological time series of these basins at the annual time step in 1970–1971. The deficits associated with this rupture are estimated at −7% for rainfall and −28% for river flows. The wet season shows similar developments. However, from the 1990s onward, there has been a significant increase in the mean annual flows of the Benoue River, which coincides with that of the rainfall during the same decade. This increase over the recent decades could also be expected in response to an increase in impervious surface area in the catchment area, which could compensate for the deficit generated by the post-1990s rainfall deficit through an increase in runoff. Since the filling of the Lagdo Dam in 1983, an increase in all ranges of minimum flow, as well as an increase in the variability of extreme flows, has been detected. HIGHLIGHTS The study of rainfall in tropical central Africa is addressed.; The study of land use and land cover change in tropical central Africa is addressed.; The impact of climate and anthropization on flows is mainly addressed.;

This is the first study on the effects of the dam on channel morphology the downstream of dam on a global scale with a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. This study was conducted based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Therefore, the SCOPUS and Web of Science databases were searched using the Boolean operators 'AND' and 'OR' combined with keywords related to the subject area. All of the papers were in English and published up to 2023. Ultimately, 76 papers were evaluated for systematic review (qualitative analysis) and only 6 papers for meta-analysis (quantitative analysis). Results showed that the number of published papers has increased over time. In terms of channel adjustment, channel width decreased in the post-dam period, with narrowing and incision dominating in the downstream reaches. Meta-analysis showed that the dam has a moderately negative effect on channel width. Understanding these changes on a global scale can increase awareness of the impacts of dams on channel adjustment and their consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has emerged as a transformative force in the construction industry, gaining traction within the hydropower sector. This study critically examines the adoption and application of BIM throughout the entire lifecycle of hydropower projects, addressing a notable gap in existing research, to encompass a holistic approach to the management and resilience of these critical infrastructures. The objective is to delineate the comprehensive range of BIM applications, use cases, and adoption, integrating technologies including Digital Twin, UAV, GIS, and simulation tools, across components of hydropower projects. Employing a systematic search paired with a critical review of the selected literature, this study meticulously evaluates significant contributions in this domain. Through thematic analysis, the multifaceted utility of BIM in hydropower structures, including an in-depth evaluation of its current adoption within the industry, is presented. This encompasses an analysis of both benefits and challenges inherent in BIM implementation for hydropower infrastructures. This study is a significant contribution to understanding how BIM can be leveraged to enhance the resilience of hydropower infrastructures. It provides a comprehensive view of BIM's applications, challenges, and future potential, guiding stakeholders in adopting strategies that ensure these structures withstand, adapt, and recover from disruptions while maintaining sustainable and efficient operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to propose an impact analysis model to explore the effect of the post-earthquake landslide surge on local damage to ultra-high arch dams. Based on the existing pressure model of landslide-generated waves impacting the dam, nonlinear dynamic analysis is conducted on a high arch dam subjected to the landslide surge of different surge heights after the earthquake, through numerical simulation. According to the theory of nonlinear least squares, the relationship between the surge height and the damage value of all dam elements is fitted with a Sigmoid function, and the results show good fitting performance. This result proves that the proposed impact analysis model can well reflect the influence of the surge height on the local damage to arch dams. In addition, three parameters are defined based on this model. The influence of the post-earthquake landslide surge on the local damage of arch dams at different positions is analyzed based on these three parameters, and the vulnerable positions of the dam body under the impact of the post-earthquake landslide surge are determined. The model has important significance for the safety evaluation of dams affected by landslide-generated waves after an earthquake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stress-strain state and strength of the cutoff wall in the base layer of a tailings dam is assessed through numerical simulation [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the problem of removing 3D effects as one of the most challenging problems related to 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) monitoring of embankment structures. When processing 2D ERT monitoring data measured along linear profiles, it is fundamental to estimate and correct the distortions introduced by the non-uniform 3D geometry of the embankment. Here, I adopt an iterative 3D correction plus 2D inversion procedure to correct the 3D effects and I test the validity of the proposed algorithm using both synthetic and real data. The modelled embankment is inspired by a critical section of the Parma River levee in Colorno (PR), Italy, where a permanent ERT monitoring system has been in operation since November 2018. For each model of the embankment, reference synthetic data were produced in Res2dmod and Res3dmod for the corresponding 2D and 3D models. Using the reference synthetic data, reference 3D effects were calculated to be compared with 3D effects estimated by the proposed algorithm at each iteration. The results of the synthetic tests showed that even in the absence of a priori information, the proposed algorithm for correcting 3D effects converges rapidly to ideal corrections. Having validated the proposed algorithm through synthetic tests, the method was applied to the ERT monitoring data in the study site to remove 3D effects. Two real datasets from the study site, taken after dry and rainy periods, are discussed here. The results showed that 3D effects cause about ±50% changes in the inverted resistivity images for both periods. This is a critical artifact considering that the final objective of ERT monitoring data for such studies is to produce water content maps to be integrated in alarm systems for hydrogeological risk mitigation. The proposed algorithm to remove 3D effects is thus a rapid and validated solution to satisfy near-real-time data processing and to produce reliable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dams play a vital role as a primary water supply for irrigation in Jordan, necessitating an assessment of their water quality. This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of irrigation water in a key number of Jordanian dams, namely Al Kafrain, Al Waala, King Talal (KTD), Mujib, Shuaib, and Sharhabil. Monthly readings of major water parameters (EC, Cl−, SO42−, HCO3−, Na+, Ca2+, and Mg2+) were recorded for seven years (2015–2021) for each dam. The assessment criteria included the sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), soluble sodium percentage (SSP), residual sodium carbonate (RSC), magnesium adsorption ratio (MAR), kelley ratio (KR), total hardness (TH), and water quality index (WQI) using both average (APL) and maximum permissible limits (MPL). Additionally, USSL, Wilcox, Doneen, Piper, and Gibbs diagrams were applied. The findings indicate that all the dams demonstrated suitability for irrigation based on the SAR, SSP, RSC, MAR, and KR values. The USSL diagrams showed most samples falling under C2S1 and C3S1, except KTD, which fell under C3S2. According to the Wilcox diagram, the water was either Excellent to Good or Good to Permissible, while the KTD water was classified as Permissible to Doubtful. Furthermore, the water chemistry was found to be mainly influenced by rock weathering, as revealed in the Gibbs diagram, and has no restriction on permeability, according to the Doneen diagram. The WQI showed that all the dams fall in the Good and Excellent category for irrigation using APL, while applying MPL, all the dams were in the Excellent category, which demonstrates the necessity of considering extreme events and regulatory thresholds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dam health monitoring is an important method for quantitative evaluation of dam safety. After long-term operation, there have missing data in dam monitoring data series inevitably due to the sensor damage or monitoring system failure problem which seriously affects the correctness of dam safety evaluation. The imputation accuracy of missing value is affected by data decomposition, reconstruction, and prediction methods. Therefore, in view of the high-precision imputation model of missing data in dam health monitoring, this paper proposes a data-driven fusion imputation model based on novel mode decomposition and deep learning method. First, the fusion imputation model is constructed based on extreme-point symmetric mode decomposition (ESMD), permutation entropy (PE), and bidirectional gate recurrent unit neural network (BiGRU). The ESMD-PE data preprocessing module can decompose the original data into a series of stable subsequences which can be input into the advanced deep learning BiGRU model to improve the interpolation accuracy. Then, the types of dam missing data and interpolation steps are studied. The engineering example illustrates that the root mean square error of the proposed model is decreased by 55.32% on average compared with four classical imputation models. The ESMD-PE–BiGRU fusion model can effectively simulate the inherent law of dam monitoring data and predict the missing data, which provides complete monitoring data for dam safety analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fish stranding in rivers, due to rapid shoreline dewatering, often occurs during the down‐ramping phase of hydropeaks, which enables peak energy production. Multiple hydropeaking characteristics and river morphology influence stranding, but little is known about the effects of riverbed microstructures. Our goal was to identify how the combination of hydropeaking characteristics and the occurrence of morphological microstructures (e.g., puddles and scour pools) influences fish stranding. For this purpose, we used an extensive dataset of fish stranding observations collected over 3 years in spring at 48 sites along a 50 km‐long reach of the Ain River, France. We aimed (1) to characterize stranding events and their associated fish assemblages and (2) to identify the spatial and temporal determinants of stranding. The occurrence of morphological microstructures was the main factor explaining fish stranding. Scour pools had a strong impact, followed by scour puddles, humid zones, and alluvial puddles. Then, hydropeaking characteristics interacted with morphology and modulated the intensity of stranding. Low flow ranges (low peak flow and low base flow) occurring after periods without hydropeaks induced 'salmonid fry' stranding events and 'super‐stranding' events (massive stranding of many taxa). Other flow ranges induced 'regular cyprinid fry' stranding events. Salmonids were particularly subject to stranding at the beginning of the sampling period. Recommendations are (1) to act in priority on sites where stranding is most likely, by morphological operations or by installing attractive structures in the perennial area and (2) to maintain attractive, perennial habitats in the low flow range of hydropeaks, for example, by increasing base flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catastrophic failure of two dams in Libya on 10 and 11 September 2023 resulted in the devastating flooding of the city of Derna, which is located downstream of the dams, causing more than 6000 fatalities and displacing thousands of residents. The failure was attributed to heavy rainfall from Storm Daniel, leading to the dams reaching full capacity and subsequently overflowing and failing. This paper presents an analysis of the dam break, including the modelling of flow discharge and the resulting flooding of Derna. For validation purposes, this study compares the modelled quantities with post-event satellite imagery from UNOSAT and Copernicus, local reports, and data collected from social media using AI detection. The findings provide valuable insights into the dynamics of the dam break and its initial parameters, as well as an assessment of the accuracy of the results. The analysis is performed using a rapid estimation technique developed by JRC to provide the international emergency community with a swift overview of the impact and damage assessment of potential or actual dam break events. The use of all available data shows a satisfactory comparison with the calculated quantities. The rapid modelling of dam break events and combined analysis of multiple data types are proven suitable for promptly assessing the expected dynamic of the event, as well as reconstructing the unknown initial conditions before the break. Incorporating sensitivity analyses provides an estimate of the uncertainties associated with the deduced values of the unknown parameters and their relative importance in the analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The complex aquatic system of dam reservoirs is known to trap emerging pollutants as microplastics (MPs) in sediments and water column. Considering the knowledge gaps in this type of environment, we investigated the amount and distribution of MPs in the surface water layer, as well as in the surface and deep sediments of the Siriu Reservoir in the Buzău River system, which is located in the southern area of the Eastern Carpathians, Romania. There was a discrepancy between MP abundancy in both water and sediment samples collected near the reservoir (5.3 MPs/m3, 315.5 MPs/kg) and at several kilometers downstream of the dam (1.4 MPs/m3, 132.5 MPs/kg). The chronological accumulation of MPs in the lacustrine sediments was determined by analyzing 5 cm intervals of a 50 cm length core extracted from the reservoir bed. By comparing the concentration of MPs identified in each interval with the solid debit volumes registered in the last decade, we found that flood events could be traced easily due to abundant MP accumulation. Morphologically, the particles were observed mainly as fibers and fragments. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-iR) investigations identified most of the MPs as polypropylene (28%), polyethylene (26%), and polyethylene terephthalate (19%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wadis are environments of great ecological and economic importance. They are the seat of several hydraulic developments. The latter disrupts the functioning of the wadi in different ways. They modify their hydrological regime, disrupt the ecological conditions upstream and downstream of the reservoir, reduce the self-purification capacities, and modify the processes of erosion and solid transport. It is in this perspective that we have carried out a study of the impact of hydraulic installations on the quality of the waters of the Mafragh watershed. The hydrographic network of the watershed receives the wastewater discharged by the localities and by the industries located along these rivers. This wastewater contributes to the degradation of the water quality of the wadis. The spatio-temporal variation of the water quality index showed a good quality at the level of the dams, while at the level of the sites, which are located downstream, the quality generally varies between bad and very bad during the study period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rock-Filled Concrete (RFC) is formed by pouring High-performance Self-Compacting Concrete (HSCC) into gaps between pre-placed rocks (that form a strong rock skeleton) in the formwork. An in-depth analysis of RFC's elastic modulus must focus on its static and elastic modulus behavior, strength characteristics, and sustainability aspects. Mesoscopic finite element modeling effectively incorporates pre-positioned rocks, Self-Compacting Concrete (SCC), and the Interfacial Transition Zone (ITZ) to correctly predict performance. RFC is a promising alternative to traditional construction methods, offering combined advantages for masonry and concrete techniques while reducing cement usage. Studies continue to examine the creep properties of reinforced fiber composites, with promising signs of their effectiveness in reducing hydration heat and concrete shrinkage. Subaquatic conservation agents enhance environmental stewardship in wet situations. The elastic modulus of rock-filled concrete increases logarithmically, mostly influenced by the rock-fill composition. It is crucial to study the shape, size, and rock-fill ratio of rocks in RFC that impact its stability, strength, and resistance to static and dynamic loads. Irregularly shaped rocks can enhance interlocking and mechanical properties, while a well-graded mix of sizes improves compaction and uniformity. Studying these properties enables engineers to optimize design and construction for durability and performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Periphyton is the dominant primary producer in mountain streams and sustains the higher trophic levels. While certain periphyton groups, particularly diatoms, have received extensive study, the comprehensive characterization of the entire community has been largely neglected. This study aims to investigate the temporal pattern of biofilm in mountain streams characterized by different water thermal regimes. A one-year quantitative campaign, involving monthly samplings, was conducted in five subalpine streams in Northern Italy's Orobic Alps to collect epilithic biofilm from a wide surface area. The total biomass was quantified and the periphyton was analyzed both for composition (diatoms, green algae, cyanobacteria, and red algae) and for pigments. Disturbance, water temperature, physico-chemical conditions, nutrients, substrate diversity, and light availability were assessed concurrently with biofilm samplings. Results show sharp biofilm variations over months. In all sites, the disturbance was the primary factor reducing biomass and pigment content. Annually, all sites experienced similar turnover in periphyton composition mainly associated with light and water temperature. Overall, the study indicates that frequent quantitative investigations of biofilm help understand intra-annual variations and identify key drivers. Such information is useful to understand the ecosystem processes and the food web dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

River impoundment is usually accompanied with consequences of alteration in the hydrological system and change in the biodiversity composition of the ecosystem. This study investigated the impact of the dams built on Challawa (that is, Challawa George-Dam) and Kano (that is, Tiga Dam) on the fish biodiversity of the reservoir and below-dam sections of the two rivers. Fish sampling was done using long lines, Malian traps, cast and gill nets from stations on the reservoir and below-dam sections of the rivers. Ten fish species were identified from the reservoir and the below-dam sections of Challawa River belonging to nine families and four orders. Fish communities of the reservoir and below-dam sections of Kano River consisted of 28 species belonging to 12 families and 7 orders. Results of the Shannon diversity index (H' ) indicated that the two reservoirs have relatively higher fish species diversity measures (that is, Challawa=1.948 & Kano=2.294) than the below-dam parts (that is, Challawa=1.833 & Kano=2.247) of their respective rivers. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) analysis produced two-dimensional maps with stress values of 0.0554 and 0.0537, an indication that the model provided good representation of the original data in reduced-dimensional space. The ordination map indicated wide dissimilarities between fish communities of the impounded and below-dam sections. Furthermore, a one-way analysis of similarity indicated significant difference (P=0.0001) and high dissimilarities (R=0.643) between fish communities in the two sections of Challawa River and also in Kano River (P=0.001, R=0.929). Analysis of Similarity Percentage indicated 74.45% of the dissmilarities between fish communities in the two sections were cummulatively contributed by four species in Challawa River and 72.18% by five species in Kano River. The distinct differences in fish abundance and richness between the two sections is ascribed to increased ecosytem productivity often associated with the inundated portion of dammed river. It is recommended that more water flow across the dams should be encouraged as a mitigating measure to boost basin sizes of the rivers at the below-dam sections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In August 2019, the local council of Umm al-Fahem, Israel, cancelled a scheduled performance of the known Palestinian rapper Tamer Nafar, claiming that Nafar's artistic work did not meet with the town's accepted religious, moral, and social norms. Subsequently, residents of the town and the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, petitioned the Court against the local council's interference with Nafar's freedom of artistic expression. Significantly, Nafar was not among the petitioners. The Court concurred with the petitioners, determining that the local council had no authority to interfere with Nafar's artistic content, and if there was concern regarding detrimental effects on public peace or security, police security should be provided for the event. Despite this ruling from an Israeli court, Nafar refused to perform in Umm al-Fahm. Instead, he accepted an invitation for dialogue with the conservative non-liberal forces within Umm al-Fahm council, a dialogue that resulted in reconciliation. I argue that Nafar's decision, as a liberal subject to choose dialogue with non-liberal forces in Palestinian society embodies the conceptual foundations of post-secularism, which extend beyond the binary of liberal/non liberal divisions and binaries and pave the way for internal dialogue between religious and secular actors. It constructs a platform for liberal subjects in Palestinian society to be heard in the public Palestinian sphere, providing social and political alternatives to the violent authority of Israeli law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the changes in groundwater temperature at the base of the future dam of the Rogun hydropower plant are studied, with the aim of assessing the filtration characteristics of the base rock and determining the filtration coefficient and concentrated filtration path. In addition, the equation for the filtration coefficient is derived, which is used to calculate the filtration coefficient and rate of the filtered turbulent water movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thiamine Deficiency Complex is an emerging health concern for California’s Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). Low egg thiamine concentrations contribute to the condition being expressed in newly hatched fry leading to increased rates of early mortality. Increased rates of mortality in early life stages could further jeopardize already depleted populations of Chinook salmon in California’s river systems. In 2020, a study of egg thiamine concentrations at Coleman National Fish Hatchery and Livingston Stone Fish Hatchery revealed nearly 50% of the sampled populations contained egg thiamine concentrations below 5 nmol/g which is the egg thiamine concentration threshold for 95% fry viability. This study assesses egg thiamine concentrations from Chinook salmon sampled in the Klamath River Basin during their 2020 and 2021 annual spawning migrations. The study will also assess relationships between egg thiamine concentration and other variables including water temperature and distance of migration, and it will also evaluate relationships between egg diameter and egg thiamine concentration.See the media created for this project here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/b49ec1acfdc9435dabeeca0c2606eda1

Recovering structures from images with 180∘ or 360∘ FoV is pivotal in computer vision and computational photography, particularly for VR/AR/MR and autonomous robotics applications. Due to varying distortions and the complexity of indoor scenes, recovering flexible structures from a single image is challenging. We introduce OmniSRNet, a comprehensive deep learning framework that merges distortion-aware learning with bidirectional LSTM. Utilizing a curated dataset with optimized panorama and expanded fisheye images, our framework features a distortion-aware module (DAM) for extracting features and a horizontal and vertical step module (HVSM) of LSTM for contextual predictions. OmniSRNet excels in applications such as VR-based house viewing and MR-based video surveillance, achieving leading results on cuboid and non-cuboid datasets. The code and dataset can be accessed at https://github.com/mmlph/OmniSRNet/.